UNITED STATES STATES AIR FORCE GROUND
OBSERVER CORPS: United States. 1949-1958. Initial efforts toward
the organization of a post-World War II Ground Observer Corps in the United
States were undertaken as early as 1949. In September 1949, Operation
Lookout, a test of the concept of ground observers for continental defense,
demonstrated that observers could detect, recognize and identify, report, and
track hostile aircraft penetrating United States airspace. Weaknesses were
identified during Operation Lookout that were subsequently corrected as the
basis for activation of Operation Skywatch, the 24 hour a day coverage by the
Ground Observer Corps, on 14 July 1952. With the achievement of
operational status by the Mid-Canada Line radar barrier in January 1958, the
Ground Observer Corps was released from 24 hour operations to a ready reserve
status. The Corps was finally deactivated in January 1959.

Sources: United States, Department of the
Air Force, Aircraft Recognition for the Ground Observer, AF Manual 355-10, St.
Louis, Missouri, United States of America, Von Hoffmann Press, 1955.
United States, Department of the Air Force, Ground Observers' Guide, AF Manual
50-12, St. Louis, Missouri, United States of America, Universal Printing
Company, 1951. Federation of American Scientists, "NORAD Selected Chronology,"
location
http://www.fas.org/nuke/guide/usa/airdef/norad-chron.htm, accessed 15
September 2003.